Read-out and code translating system



J n 1964 R. E. LOUDON READ-OUT AND CODE TRANSLATING SYSTEM 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 50, 1959 LQQURFQ J n 1964 R. E.LOUDON OUT AND CODE TRANSLATING SYSTEM READ- 5 Sheets-Sweet 2 OriginalFiled March 30, 1959 June 9, 1964 R. E. LOUDON 3,136,989

READ-OUT AND CODE TRANSLATING SYSTEM Original Filed March 30, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 3 MAGNET United States Patent 0.

3,136,989 READ-OUT AND CODE TRANSLATIN G SYSTEM Robert E. Loudon, LosAngeles, Calif, assignor to Clary Corporation, San Gabriel, Califi, acorporation of California Continuation of application Ser. No. 802,778,Mar.-30, 1959. This application Jan. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 172,364 9Claims. (Cl. 340-347) This invention relates to read-'out apparatus forelectronic data handling equipment or like and has a particularreference to a read-out apparatus capable of translating informationregistered in a combinational unit code into a single unit code.

In one form of apparatus of the above type, as exemplified by thedisclosure in the copending application of R. E. Loudon et al., SerialNumber 781,153, filed December 17, 1958, now US. Patent No. 3,077,590, amatrix of contacts are formed in patterns which are arranged inaccordance with a particular combinational code being used. A scanningdevice operating in time with a registering or recording devicesuccessively scans the different patterns of contacts and electricallycompares such patterns with the coded information being read out. When acomparison is obtained the recording device'is actuated to record theappropriate characters, for example decimal digits.

One problem encountered in an apparatus of the above type is that therecording device may be actuated two or more times during a cycle. Thisis due to the fact that in many combinational unit codes a unitrepresenting a single numeral digit character may be combined with oneor more other units to represent a second single digit or character.Thus, as the scanning device successively scans the various patterns ofcontacts during the cycle it may successively effect two or moreregistrations or recordings, all but one of which would be unwanted.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a relativelysimple apparatus to overcome the above noted problem.

Another object is to provide a read-out system for translating any typeof combinational unit code into a single unit code.

Another object is to provide a read-out system for concurrentlytranslating and reading out information from an electronic data handlingapparatus having any type of combinational unit coded output.

The manner in which the above and other objects the invention areaccomplished will be readily understood on reference to thefollowingspecification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of an apparatus embodying a preferredform of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed schematic View illustrating one denominational unitof the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a commutator disc for use in translating thebinary coded decimal system into the decimal system.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through part of a digit recordingdevice chosen for illustration in connection with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed schematic view of a modified form of the invention.

This application is a continuation of my copending'application SerialNo. 802,778, now abandoned, filed on March 30, 1959.

Describing first the printing mechanism shown in FIG. 4, such mechanismis disclosed and claimed in different aspects in the copendingapplications of E. O. Witt et al. Serial Number 770,719 filed on October30, 1958 and since matured into Patent No. 2,915,968, issued on December8, 1959, and C. A. Christoif et a1. Serial Number s impression from thetype character to the paper.

3,136,989 Patented June 9, 1964 787,543 filed on January 19, 1959 andsince matured into Patent No. 2,910,936, issued on November 3, 1959.Therefore, only a general description of such printing mechanism will begiven herein and reference may be had to the above copendingapplications for a complete understanding thereof.

The printing mechanism comprises a rotatable drive shaft 11 rotatablysupported in bearings not shown. The shaft 11 has eccentric bearingportions 12 which rotatably support a printing drum 13 through ballbearings 14. An external gear 15 is fixed on the drum, concentrictherewith and meshes with an internal gear 16 arranged concentrically ofthe shaft 11 and suitably secured in a frame section 17. v

The printing drum 13 has a plurality of rows 18 of type printingcharacters extending therearound as indicated in FIG. 1, each rowcontaining digit type characters 20, FIG. 4, ranging in value from zeroto nine.

The printing drum 13 is divided into a number of type character spacestherearound and the number of external teeth on the gear 15 is equal tosuch number or to an equal integral multiple thereof. The internal gear16 contains the same number of teeth plus one or plus such multiplenumber ofteeth so that upon each rotation of the shaft 11 and consequentorbital movement of the printing drum 13 about the center of the shaft11, the drum will creep from one type character space to the nextrelative to a printing station established by a row of platens, one ofwhich is shown at 21, there being one such platen for each row 18 oftype characters.

The various type characters are substantially aligned with the pitchdiameter of the gear 15 as will be seen in FIG. 4. Accordingly, as thetype drum center moves in an orbit about the center of'the internal gear16, a part of each type character will describe a hypocycloidal curve sothat, as each type character reaches the apex of its outward travel, itwill be moving substantially radially outward. positioned inwardlytoward the type drum against a paper strip 22, printing contact willoccur to transfer a printing Suitable means (not shown) is provided toapply ink to the type characters.

Describing now the means for positioning the platens 21 in and out ofprinting position, such platens are located in side by side location inline with the respective rows 18 of the type characters 20 and are fixedin slides 23 guided for longitudinal movement in slots formed in astationary guide block 24.

Cam bars 25 extend between side rails forming the slides23 and havecamming surfaces thereon cooperable with a pair of pins 26 attached tothe slides whereby to raise and lower the platen. Normally, the cam barsare held inwardly as shown in FIG. 4, whereby to maintain the respectiveplaten 21 raised out of printing position,

': by a leaf spring 27 suitably attached to the guide block.

The right-hand ends of the cam bars 25 engage arms 28 pivotallysupported at 30 and provided with tabs 31 forming armatures cooperablewith electro magnets 32.

Energization of the magnet 32 will rock its associated arm 28counterclockwise, thereby actuating its cam bar 25 a type effectiveto'register a combinational unit code and in this disclosure is intendedto represent the binary coded decimal type code. The register includes aplural- If at this time a printing platen 21 has been e1 ity of decades,i.e. a units decade 34a, tens decade 35b, etc. Each decade comprisesfour stages representing successively, the weighted values one, two,four and eight.

An example of such counting register circuits may be found in the patentissued to F. Schwend, Number 2,767,- 907 on October 23, 1956, whereinfour bi-stable stages 25, 26, 27 and 28 are interconnected to operate asone decade of a counter register.

The register 33 includes an input line 36 to receive pulses to becounted. The various decades are connected by lines 37 whereby eachdecade will receive a carry-over pulse when a preceding decade hasregistered ten pulses. When one of four output lines 38 connected to thedifferent stages of a decade represents a binary zero it is renderedrelatively low in potential, i.e., approximately volts, whereas whensuch output line of such decade represents a binary one, the outputpotential is relatively high, i.e., approximately zero volts.

The groups of output lines 38 from the various counter decades areconnected as input lines to respective comparison circuits 40. Theoutput 41 of each comparison circuit is connected to a printer selectormagnet energizing circuit, indicated in FIG. 1 by an arrow 42, elfectiveto cause energization of the electro magnet 32 (FIGS. 2 and 4) in thecorresponding denominational order of the printer. Two additional groupsof input lines 43 and 44 are also connected to each comparison circuit40. The groups of input lines 43 are connected to trunk lines 45 servingall like input groups for the different comparison circuits. Such trunklines 45 are connected to respective ones of a group of stationarybrushes 46 associated with a commutator disc 47. The other group ofinput lines 44 of each comparison circuit is connected through a secondgroup of trunk lines 43 to a second group of stationary brushes 50 alsoassociated with the commutator disk 47.

The commutator disc 47 is carried by a shaft 51, and is formed ofinsulating material having two groups 152 and 153 (FIG. 3) ofconcentrically arranged contacts formed thereon and arranged to passunder respective ones of the groups of brushes 46 and 50. The contactsof group 152 are electrically connected together independently of thegroup 153 and are electrically connected to an outer broken conductorring 154. Contact portions of the latter are in wiping contact with astationary brush 155 connected to a source of 10 volts potential.Likewise, the group of contacts 153 are electrically connected togetherand to a broken conductor ring 156 whose contact portions are arrangedin wiping contact withstationary brush 157 connected to a source of +10volts potential.

As set forth in the above copending applications, the commutator disc 47is operatively connected to the printing drum 13 in such manner that itadvances its contact from one contact section i.e., section a of FIG. 3,to the next section, i.e. section b, as the drum advances from one typecharacter space to the next.

Accordingly, as the commutator disc 47 rotates in the direction of thearrow A (FIG. 3), a relatively high potential is applied to difiierentcombinations of lines 44 depending on the configurations of the group153 of contacts on the disc. Likewise, a relatively low potential willbe supplied to dilferent combinations of the lines 43 depending on theconfiguration of the group 152 of disc contacts.

The contacts 152 are 30 arranged and located relative to the printingdrum that the combination of negative potentials applied to lines 43 atany one time represent a combinational code corresponding to aparticular numeral digit type character passing under the platens 21 atthat time. On the other hand, the contacts 153 are arranged in a mannercomplemental to the contacts 152 so that the positive potentials appliedto the lines 44 4- will be complemental to the negative potentialsapplied to the lines 43.

Only when a combination of negative potentials on lines 43 match thepositive potentials registered on the output lines 38 of thecorresponding counter decade and the combination of positive potentialson lines 44 match the negative potential registered by such counterdecade output lines will an output pulse be applied over line 41 toeffect printing.

It should be noted that all duplicate type characters in the differentcircumferential rows 18 of the type drum are in line with each other ina direction parallel to the axis of the drum. Therefore, all duplicatedigits in different denominational orders of the drum will be similarlyprinted when a code emitted by the commutator matches a combinationalcode registered by the respective counter decades. Obviously theregister and the printed may incorporate any desired number ofdenominational orders.

FIG. 2 illustrates in detail the comparison circuit 40 for controllingthe units order print selector magnet 32 from the units decade 34a, itbeing understood that the details of the remaining comparison circuitsare similar. Here, the group of input lines 43 are connected throughcrystal diodes 150, points 51 and resistors 52 to the output lines 38for the units decade 34a.

An and gate 54 for low potentials is provided, comprising four diodes 55having their anodes connected to the points 51 of connection todifferent lines 43. The cathodes of these diodes are connected to a line56 which in turn is connected through a resistor 50 of 470,000 ohms to asource of 28 volts potential. The line 56 is connected through apotential inverting circuit 57 to the cathode of an input diode 58 of anand gate generally indicated at 60, for high potentials. The anode ofthe latter diode is connected through a line 61 and resistor 62 of270,000 ohms to a source of +28 volts potential.

A group of input lines 44 are connected through diodes 63, points 64,and resistors 165 of 47,000 ohms each to the output lines 38 of thedecade. An and gate 65 for high potentials has the cathodes of its inputdiodes 66 connected to points 64 while the anodes are connected to acommon line 67 which, in turn, is connected through a resistor 68 of270,000 ohms to a source of +28 volts potential. Line 67 is connected toa cathode of a second diode 70 of the and gate 60.

Describing now the operation of the circuit, assume that the unitsdecade 34a registers the binary value 0011, representative of thedecimal digit 3. In such case, the output lines 38 having the weightedvalues 1 and 2 each register a high potential and the lines having theweighted values 4 and 8 register a relatively low potential. As thecommutator disc 47 rotates, different combinations of high and lowpotentials are applied over the groups of input lines 43 and 44 withouteffecting operation of the comparison circuit to energize the unitsorder magnet 32. However, when a combination of potentials correspondingto the digit 3 are received over the lines 43 and 44, i.e., when acombination of low potentials is applied to the upper two diodes and acombination of high potentials is applied to the upper two diodes 63 thefollowing occurs. Potential is lowered 0n the anodes of the two upperdiodes 55 and since the potential on the lower two diodes is already ata relatively low potential due to the lower potential of the outputlines 4 and 8, the potential of line 56 will drop substantially to thevalue of the potential supply connected thereto. Accordingly, theinverter circuit 57 will apply a relatively high potential to the outputof the and gate 60.

Simultaneously, as a high potential is applied through the upper twodiodes 63 to the cathodes of the two upper diodes 66, the potential ofthe line 67 will rise substantially to the value of the potential sourceconnected thereto since the lower two diodes 66 are'already standing ata high potential as the result of their connection to the output lines 1and'2. Therefore, potential will rise in line 67 to raise the output ofgate 60 and this will be applied through the amplifier 42 to energizethe magnet 32 to thereby effect printing of the digit decimal value 3.

It will be seen from the foregoing that only the value registered willbe printed and no ambiguous printing can be effected regardless of therelationships with the combinations of potentials received from thecommutator disc. 7

Considering the commutator disc to be rotated in the direction of thearrow A in FIG. 3, the contacts of the broken conductor rings 154 and156 are so arranged that contact is made therewith by brushes 155 and157, respectively, after the brushes 46 and 50 are in full w pingcontact with the appropriate ones of the respective groups of contacts152 and 156.

plication of Robert E. London, Serial Number 781,153,

filed December17, 1958 may be embodied in the circuit of the presentinvention to initiate a print cycle and terminate the same afteracomplete rotation oftthe commutator disc. t

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein the group ofcontacts corresponding to group 152 (FIG. 3) is omitted and only group153a, corresponding to group 153, is retained, thus reducing the numberof wiping contacts, In this case, the brushes 59a associated with thecontacts 153a are connected to respective ones of lines 44a, and suchlines are connected directly to respective onesof the lines 43a.

A source of -26 volts potential is connected through suitable resistors157 to respective ones of the lines 43a. Clamping diodes 158, havingtheir anodes connected to a -10 volt potential supply are connected tothe lower ends of the resistors 157 to normally clamp the lines 430 atl0 volts.

The contacts 153a are connected together and are inter mittentlyconnected to a source of positive potential through a brush 157a. Theyare so arranged relative to the printing drum that the combination ofpositive potentials applied to the lines 43a and 44a at any one timerepresent the complement of the code for the particular numerical digittype characters located at the printing point at that time. I g

It will be noted that a negative potential will normally be appliedthrough the resistors 157 and to the input diodes 55a of the and gate54a. 1

When a combination of relatively positive (ground) potentials derivedfrom the commutator contacts 153a complement thepositive potentialsderived from the output of the decade 34a, the and gate 6551 willoperate to apply a positive potential to the lower input diode of theand gate 60a. Also, when such combination of ground potentials isapplied to the lines 43a, all of the inputs of gate 54a will be held atlow potential to'cause this gate to operate to apply a negativepotential to the inverter 57a. The inverter will therefore pass apositive potential to the gate 60a.

The gate 60a when having both inputs high'will pass a positive potentialthrough an amplifier 42a and a magnet 32a to thereby effect a printoperation.

Although I have described my invention in detail, and have thereforeused certain specific terms and language herein, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure is illustrative rather than restrictive andthat changesand modifications may be made without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the ap pended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire to secure by UnitedStates Letters Patent is: I

1. A read-out system for an apparatus having a plurality of terminalswhich indicate different digits by invariable combinations of steadystate high and low potentials on different ones of said terminalscomprising the combination of a member having type elements spacedthereon representing respective ones of said digits, a device foreffecting recording by any one of said type elements, means for movingsaid member to sequentially advance said type elements past saidrecording device, a first matrix of elements arranged in patterns torepresent the said possible combinations of low potentials on saidterminals, a second matrix of elements arranged in patterns to representthe said possible combinations of high potentials on said terminals,scanning devices for respective ones of said matrices, means for causingrelative scanning movement between said scanning devices and saidmatrices in time with said member whereby said scanning devices scansaid patterns representing respective ones of said type elements as saidrespective type elementspass said recording device, and means responsivejointly to the potentials on said terminals and to the said scanningdevice for said first matrix upon scanning a pattern of said elements insaid first matrix corresponding to the said terminals having lowpotentials thereon and to the said scanning device for said secondmatrix upon scanning a pattern of the said elements in said secondmatrix corresponding to the said terminals having high potentialsthereon for actuating said recording device.

2. In a read-out system for an apparatus having a plurality of terminalswhich indicate different digits by invariable combinations of steadystate high and low potentials on different ones of said terminalscomprising the combination of a member having type elements thereonrepresenting respective ones of said digits, a device for effectingrecording by any one of said type elements, means for moving said memberto sequentially advance said type elements past said recording device, afirst matrix of elements arranged in patterns to represent the saidpossible combinations of low potentials on said terminals, means forapplying a low potential to said matrix, a second matrix of elementsarranged in patterns to represent the said possible combinations of highpotentials on said terminals, means for applying a high potential tosaid second matrix, sensing devices for respective ones of saidmatrices, means for causing relative movement between said sensingdevices and said matrices in time with said member whereby said sensingdevices sense said patterns representing respective ones of said typeelements as said respective type elements pass said recording device,and means controlled jointly by the said potentials on said terminalsand by said sensing devices for said first matrix upon sensing a patternof low potentials on said first matrix corresponding to the saidterminals having low potentials thereon and by said sensing devices forsaid second matrix upon sensing a pattern of high potentials on saidsecond matrix corresponding to the said terminals having high potentialsthereon for actuating said recording device. p

3, A read-out system for an apparatus having a plurality of terminalswhich indicate different digits by invariable combinations of firststeady state potentials of one character and second steady statepotentialsof a second character on different ones of said terminalscomprising the combination of a memberhaving type elements spacedthereon representing respective ones of said digits, a device foreffecting recording of said type elements, means for moving said memberto sequentially advance said type elements past said recording device, afirst matrix of elements arrangedin patterns to represent the saidpossible combinations of said first potentials on greases saidterminals, a second matrix of elements arranged in patterns to representthe said possible combinations of said second potentials on saidterminals, sensing devices for respective ones of said matrices, meansfor causing relative movement between said sensing devices and saidmatrices in time with said member whereby said sensing devices sensesaid patterns representing respective ones of said type elements as saidrespective type elements pass said recording device, and meanscontrolled jointly by the said potentials on said terminals and by saidsensing devices for said first matrix upon sensing a pattern in saidfirst matrix corresponding to the said terminals having said firstpotentials thereon and by said sensing devices for said second matrixupon sensing a pattern in said second matrix corresponding to the saidterminals having said second potentials thereon for actuating saidrecording device.

4. A read-out system for an apparatus having a pinrality of terminalswhich indicate different digits by invariable combinations of steadystate high and low potentials on different ones of said terminalscomprising the combination of a member having type elements spacedthereon representing the respective ones of said digits, :1 device foreffecting recording by any one of said type elements, means for movingsaid member to sequentially advance said type elements past saidrecording device, a first matrix of contacts arranged in patterns torepresent the said possible combinations of low potentials on saidterminals, means for applying a low potential to said matrix, a secondmatrix of contacts arranged in patterns to represent the said possiblecombinations of high potentials on said terminals, means for applying ahigh potential to said second matrix, brush devices for said matrices ofcontacts, means for causing relative scanning movement between saidbrush devices and said matrices in time with said member whereby saidbrush devices wipe said patterns representing respective ones of saidtype elements as said respective typeelements pass said recordingdevice, a first control circuit, a second control circuit, circuit meanscontrolled by said brush devices for said first matrix upon wiping apattern of said contacts in said first matrix corresponding to the saidterminals having low potentials thereon for energizing said firstcontrol circuit, circuit means controlled by said brush devices for saidsecond matrix upon wiping a pattern of said contacts in said secondmatrix corresponding to the said terminals having high potentialsthereon for energizing said second control circuit, and means responsiveto concurrent energization or" both of said control circuits foractuating said recording device.

5. A read-out system for an apparatus having a plurality of terminalsrepresenting different weighted values, respectively, said terminalsindicating different digits by invariable combinations of steady statehigh and low potentials on different ones of said terminals, comprisingthe combination of a member having type characters spaced thereonrepresenting respective ones of said digits, a device for effectingrecording by any one of said type characters, means for moving saidmember to sequentially advance said type characters past said recordingdevice, a first matrix of contacts arranged in patterns to represent thesaid possible combinations of low potentials on said terminals, meansfor applying a low potential to said matrix, a second matrix of contactsarranged in patterns to represent the said possible combinations of highpotentials on said terminals, means for applying a high potential tosaid second matrix, first brush devices representing said differentweighted values, respectively, said brush devices being in wipingcontact with said first matrix, second brush devices representing saiddifferent weighted values, respectively, said second brush devices beingin wiping contact with said second matrix, means for causing relativescanning movement between said brush devices and said matrices in timewith said member whereby said brush devices wipe said patternsrepresenting respective ones of said type characters as said respectivetype characters pass said recording device, circuit means including afirst set of impedance elements connecting different ones of said firstbrush devices with correspondingly valued ones of said terminals;circuit means including a second set of impedance elements connectingdifferent ones of said second brush devices with correspondingly valuedones of said terminals; a first and gate circuit for high potentialshaving inputs connected to respective ones of said brush devices; asecond and gate circuit for low potentials having inputs connected torespective ones of said second brush devices; and means responsive toconcurrent energization of both of said gate circuits for actuating saidrecording device.

6. In a recording system for an apparatus having a plurality ofterminals which indicate different characters by respective combinationsof steady state relatively high and low potentials on different ones ofsaid terminals, a type drum having type elements spaced therearoundrepresent- .ig different ones of said characters, an electricallycontrolled device for effecting recording by any one of said typeelements onto a record medium, and means for continuously advancing saiddrum to sequentially advance said type elements under said recordingdevice, the combination comprising a first circuit including a firstelectrical and gate having two inputs and an output effective whenenergized to cause operation of said recording device; a second circuitincluding a second electrical and gate having a number of inputs equalto the number of said terminals, said second circuit being effectiveonly upon application of relatively low potentials to all of said inputsof said second gate for energizing one of said inputs of said firstgate; a third circuit including a third electrical and gate having anumber of inputs equal to the number of said terminals, said thirdcircuit being effective only upon application of relatively highpotentials to all of said inputs of said third gate for energizing theother of said inputs of said first gate; means connecting said terminalsto respective inputs of said second and third gates, and meanscomprising a code generating device operable in synchronism with saidtype drum for rendering those inputs of said second gate which are notmaintained at low potentials by said terminals at low potentials and forrendering those inputs of said third gate which are not maintained athigh potentials by said terminals at high potentials only when a typeelement currently under said recording device corresponds to a characterrepresented by a combination of high and low potentials on saidterminals.

7. In a recording system for an apparatus having a plurality ofterminals which indicate different characters by respective combinationsof steady state relatively high and low potentials on different ones ofsaid terminals, a type drum having type elements spaced therearoundrepresenting different ones of said characters, an electricallycontrolled device for effecting recording by any one of said typeelements onto a record medium, and means for continuously advancing saiddrum to sequentially advance said type elements under said recordingdevice, the combination comprising a first circuit including a firstelectrical and gate having two inputs and an output effective whenenergized to cause operation of said recording device; a second circuitincluding a second electrical and gate having a number of inputs equalto the number of said terminals, said second circuit being effectiveonly upon application of relatively low potentials to all of said inputsof said second gate for energizing one of said inputs of said firstgate; a third circuit including a third electrical and gate having anumber of inputs equal to the number of said terminals, said thirdcircuit being effective only upon application of relatively highpotentials to all of said inputs of said third gate for energizing theother of said inputs of said first gate; means connecting said terminalsto respective inputs of said second and third gates, and meanscomprising a code generating device operable in synchronism with saidtype drum for lowering the potential of those inputs of said second gatewhich are maintained at relatively high potential by said terminals andfor raising the potential of those inputs of said third gate which aremaintained at relatively low potential by said terminals only when atype element currently under said recording device corresponds to acharacter represented by a combination of high and low potentials onsaid terminals is under said recording device.

8. In a recording system for an apparatus having a plurality ofterminals which indicate diiierent characters by respective combinationsof steady state relatively high and low potentials on different ones ofsaid terminals, a type drum having type elements spaced therearoundrepresenting difierent ones of said characters, an electricallycontrolled device for elfecting recording by any one of said typeelements onto a record medium, and means for continuously advancing saiddrum to sequentially advance said type elements under said recordingdevice, the combination comprising a first electrical and gate havingtwo inputs and an output effective when energized to cause operation ofsaid recording device; a second electrical and, gate having a number ofinputs equal to the number of said terminals and an output connected toone of saidinputs of said first gate, said second gate being effectiveonly upon application ofrelativcly low potentials to all of said inputsthereof for energizing the output thereof to produce a relatively lowpotential; a third electrical and gate having a number of inputs equalto the number of said terminals and an output connected to the otherinput of said first gate, said-third gate being eiiective only uponapplication of relatively high potentials to all of said inputs thereoffor energizing the output thereof to produce a relatively highpotential, a potential inverting circuit connected in series with theoutput of one of said second and third gates, means connecting saidterminals to respective inputs of said second and third gate, and

means comprising a code generating device operable in synchronism withsaid type drum for rendering those inputs of said second gate which arenot maintained at loW potential by said terminals at low potentials andfor rendering those inputs of said third gate which are not maintainedat high potential by said terminals at high potential only when a saidtype element currently under said recording device corresponds to acharacter represented number of said terminals and an output connectedto the 19 by a combination of high and low potentials on said terminals.

9. In a recording system for an apparatus having a plurality ofterminals Which indicate different characters by respective combinationsof steady state relatively high and low' potentials on different ones ofsaid terminals, a

type drum having type elements spaced therearound representing dilierentones of said character, an electrically controlled device for eifectingrecording by any one of said type elements onto a record medium, andmeans for continuously advancing said drum to sequentially ad Vance saidtype elements under said recording device, the combination comprising afirst electrical and gate having two inputs and an output effective whenenergized to cause operation of said recording device; a secondelectrical and gate having a number of inputs equal to the number ofsaid terminals and an output connected toone of the inputs of said firstgate, said second gate being effective only upon application ofrelatively low potentials on all of said inputs thereof for energizingthe output thereof to produce a relatively low potential; a third electrical and gate having a number of inputs equal to the other input ofsaid first gate, said third gate being efiective only upon applicationof relatively high potentials on all of said inputs thereof forenergizing the output thereof to produce a relatively high potential, apotential inverting circuit connected in series with the output of oneof said second and third gates, and means comprising a code generatingdevice operable in synchronism with said type drum for lowering thepotential ofthose inputs of said second gate which are maintained atrelatively high potential by said terminals and for raising thepotential of those inputs of said third gate Which are maintained atrelatively low potential by said terminals only when a type elementcurrently under said recording device corresponds to a characterrepresented by a combination of high and low potentials on saidterminals.

References Cited in the file of this patent 2,929,556 Hawkins Mar. 22,1960 Shafer Oct. 27, 1959 Rohland Oct. 27, 1959 1 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 136,989 June 9 1964Robert E. Loudon It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered paterit requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

Column 6 line 71, after "recording" insert by any one Signed and sealedthis 3rd day of November 1964.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N03,, 136,989 June 9 1964 Robert E Loudon It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered pat ent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6 line 71, after "recording" insert by any one Signed and sealedthis 3rd day of November 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNEI Aitesting Officer 7 Commissioner ofPatem

1. A READ-OUT SYSTEM FOR AN APPARATUS HAVING A PLURALITY OF TERMINALSWHICH INDICATE DIFFERENT DIGITS BY INVARIABLE COMBINATIONS OF STEADYSTATE HIGH AND LOW POTENTIALS ON DIFFERENT ONES OF SAID TERMINALSCOMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A MEMBER HAVING TYPE ELEMENTS SPACEDTHEREON REPRESENTING RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID DIGITS, A DEVICE FOREFFECTING RECORDING BY ANY ONE OF SAID TYPE ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR MOVINGSAID MEMBER TO SEQUENTIALLY ADVANCE SAID TYPE ELEMENTS PAST SAIDRECORDING DEVICE, A FIRST MATRIX OF ELEMENTS ARRANGED IN PATTERNS TOREPRESENT THE SAID POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS OF LOW POTENTIALS ON SAIDTERMINALS, A SECOND MATRIX OF ELEMENTS ARRANGED IN PATTERNS TO REPRESENTTHE SAID POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS OF HIGH POTENTIALS ON SAID TERMINALS,SCANNING DEVICES FOR RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID MATRICES, MEANS FOR CAUSINGRELATIVE SCANNING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID SCANNING DEVICES AND SAIDMATRICES IN TIME WITH SAID MEMBER WHEREBY SAID SCANNING DEVICES SCANSAID PATTERNS REPRESENTING RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID TYPE ELEMENTS AS SAIDRESPECTIVE TYPE ELEMENTS PASS SAID RECORDING DEVICE, AND MEANSRESPONSIVE JOINTLY TO THE POTENTIALS ON SAID TERMINALS AND TO THE SAIDSCANNING DEVICE FOR SAID FIRST MATRIX UPON SCANNING A PATTERN OF SAIDELEMENTS IN SAID FIRST MATRIX CORRESPONDING TO THE SAID TERMINALS HAVINGLOW POTENTIALS THEREON AND TO THE SAID SCANNING DEVICE FOR SAID SECONDMATRIX UPON SCANNING A PATTERN OF THE SAID ELEMENTS IN SAID SECONDMATRIX CORRESPONDING TO THE SAID TERMINALS HAVING HIGH POTENTIALSTHEREON FOR ACTUATING SAID RECORDING DEVICE.